More than ‘gods’, it is govt that can help them get a decent earning

This is the pathetic condition of the sculptors from Swamimalai who create idols of gods and goddesses with casting metal. Only a handful among these artisans lead a life with normal economic status. 

One of the major reasons attributed to their poor status is the lack of awareness and non-availability of funds to export their creations. So, they have part with huge portion of their returns to middlemen, who earn the maximum using the craftsmanship of these sculptors. 

At present there are only 40 descendants of the traditional sculptors continuing in the profession in Swamimalai. The government in an effort to promote the art imparted training to as many as 350 persons and totally only around 400 people are involved in the making of idols in this town of sthapatis. 

“Not all the traditional sthapatis get good business. There are only eight sthapatis in Swamimalai and 10 in Kumbakonam who get average business. “Kumbakonam is actively involved in export market too,” says Dr Mohanraj Sthapati, a researcher and co-founder of Kuberan Sirpa Kalai Koodam. 

Mohanraj said, since most of the people from their community have poor educational and economic background, they struggle to obtain the manufacturing exporter licence. So the only option for them to tap the overseas market is to depend on the middlemen who own retailer export license. They get orders at very high rates from abroad and divert them to these sthapatis, who get a paltry sum for their ace craftsmanship. 

“The agents take around 60 per cent of the profit, especially in orders met by Swamimalai sculptors,” Mohanraj said. The sad part is that the sculptor would not even where the idol was being sent and to whom, he said. 

Export fortunes: According to the Sthapatis in Swamimalai, in the past 20 years, the number of Hindu temples have been on the rise and the fortunes for exporting the idols too were bright. This apart, the idols were also being purchased by several museums across the globe. Since, only around 10 sthapatis have export licence, they  do business direct by taking orders online. 

However, the remaining members have to depend on the others as there are too many practical difficulties in clearing formalities from commercial department, Customs, district industrial centre, importer and exporter code number, etc. Even if they fulfil all these, they have to avail purchase order and then have to get the clearance from archaeology department. 

As it is being long and cumbersome process, they approach middlemen to sell their products with a minimal profit. 

Some of the major international destinations which are adorned by Swamimali idols are New Jersey temple in the US, the navagraha idols at a temple in the United Kingdom. Inside the country, the notable works are the silver and gold kavachams (shield) for idols of Ganesha and Punnainallur Mariamman, cradles, puja platforms and flag posts for temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The sculptors have also made Ayyappa, Jesus and Buddha idols.